Footage of the incident has since been viewed well over a million times, going viral online, with thousands of people commenting on social media. There are comments defending both parties while others accuse the crowd of “mob rule” and acting like vigilantes.

Here’s everything we know about the incident so far.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Local St Ives man Alan, who has been playing harp on St Ives harbour every summer for 40 years, allegedly damaged some cars as he rode past them on the busy harbour on Sunday afternoon.

Debbie Gray, who has known Alan for a number of years, said the incident was “out of character”.

Local St Ives man Alan has been playing harp on St Ives harbour every summer for 40 years

She said: “He had offloaded one of his panniers on his usual bucking pitch by the lifeboat station when a car went past and scraped it. The driver got out and sucker-punched him in the eye. He did what the police have always advised him to do and took off.

“He says he realises he panicked and is profoundly sorry if any other cars got damaged as he made his escape.”

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Pedestrians who witnessed the incident then chased Alan, who became “terrified”.

Several pedestrians confront the rider as he reaches the town centre, telling him he’s been filmed damaging cars and almost running people over. The situation escalates as passers-by attempt to defend the man, claiming he is homeless.

The biker is confronted

As he tries to leave the scene people attempt to stop him, forcing him to come off his bike in shocking scenes. Telling the crowd to leave him alone, the motorcyclist attempts to get away again before driving into a wall and falling off his bike, as children cry in fear.

One man confronts him, asking for his insurance details before taking his bike keys as they tussle in the street. Alan throws the key down as people shout for the police to be contacted. He is seen being asked for his insurance details and says: “I haven’t got any insurance”.

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He then rides off the wrong way up a one-way street, hitting a young pedestrian.

The viral video was shot by Jake Swordy, from Marazion. He told Cornwall Live: “It was carnage. I was stood on the harbour having a cigarette when I saw the guy hitting the cars and the drivers chasing him. He carried on going after hitting four or five cars, a couple of really expensive ones."

The biker is pushed to the ground

He added: “People were getting pretty het up and angry. It was a bit of a tricky one. I guess if your car was damaged you’d be angry. There were no police whatsoever.”

Mr Swordy said he saw the motorcyclist playing the harp in Fore Street 20 minutes later.

Debbie Gray, who has known Alan for a number of years, said she was appalled by the incident.

"I have known him for a long time and he is actually playing his harp at my wedding in St Ives this summer.

“It was really wrong what happened to him. He is a bit of a recluse and doesn't ask much from life. He was having some trouble from people down on the quay so he was trying to get away when he then got stopped by all of them in the street.

The biker is visibly distressed after being pushed off his bike

“He is a nice, genuine guy and I think he was absolutely terrified, you don't treat anyone like that. It's bullying. He just panicked because he was already fleeing others. It made me so angry."

Speaking previously, she said: “From the moment I saw the video none of it made sense, because I have known Alan for a long time and it was so out of character. I went to ask him his side … he is not homeless, he doesn’t drink and he doesn’t do any drugs.

“By the time he got to the other side of the harbour he was terrified, because he had a crowd following him.”

WHAT WAS THE REACTION?

The video led to a backlash against the members of the public who were accused of acting with mob rule and as vigilantes, although some defended the pedestrians.

Some witnesses were shocked by how the man was treated by the crowd. Andy, who did not want to give his surname, said: “It was wrong what the guy did damaging the cars but I don't think he did it deliberately and I think he was scared to death the way everyone ganged up on him like that. Yes he did hit some cars, but I think the chap was petrified to death.

The stress of the situation caused him to drive into a wall

“The most alarming thing was to hear the kids crying as they was terrified, It's a shame there's not enough police to walk the streets and the local station isn't open to the public anymore due to government cutbacks. It would been much better to let the police deal with it.”

Someone on social media posted details that show the bike has a valid MOT certificate and is both taxed and insured, despite the rider's seemingly panicked denial.

Kate Collins commented on Mr Swordy’s post: “I don’t condone what he did but the way in which this was handled was completely wrong.”

Anne Tasha said: “A wicker basket that looked to be carrying his entire life by the looks of it, poor chap. He’s clearly a vulnerable individual and if I remember correctly from living in St Ives up until January, he’s a gentle being. The crowd’s behaviour resulted in his ‘fight or flight’ reaction. The baying crowd should’ve called the police instead of filming it, or shouting out like some kind of ‘enforcement mob’.

The tussle continues

“Poor guy looked so scared,” added Donna Marie Ashton. “Yes he may have done wrong but definitely dealt with in the wrong way.”

Rosie Marks said: “There was no need for pulling him off his bike, intimidation, prying his helmet off him, taking his keys, all that behaviour. Don't get me wrong he should have stopped, he should have handed over details, he should not have taken off down the street.”

However, others weren’t so sympathetic.

Jade Brooker said: “Don’t feel sorry for him. I was there when he done it and he knew exactly what he was doing to other people’s cars and continued to drive through. The amount of damage on people’s cars was terrible.”

Adam Haworth declared: “If it was your £40k+ car you would of been cool with that?”

Joe Easy added: “Bullying and intimidating? Are you mad? People were trying to stop him from running from a hit and run! They had every right to try and stop him.”

Gavin Howden wrote: “Personally I would have taken him down and restrained him until the police arrived, that prat is going to kill someone. Guy with the sunglasses on, spot on, only a shame no one else was willing to get involved.”

ARE POLICE INVOLVED?

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were alerted at around 3.30pm on Sunday in Fore Street, St Ives, following reports of an incident in the town.

“Officers attended the scene where allegations of a minor RTC and an assault on the motorcycle rider were reported as linked to the incident.